How to Handle Dental Emergencies
December 23, 2019 Image Credit:In the event of a dental emergency, your general dentist should be the first person you contact. Most dental offices have time in the day set aside for dental emergencies, so it shouldn’t be difficult to get in to see your office very soon. However, some patients aren’t sure what is considered a dental emergency. We hope this post can help!
Dental Emergencies
Below are a few examples of common dental emergencies and how to handle them before you can see your dentist:- Tissue Injury or Facial Pain – Soft tissue injuries include cuts, lacerations, tears, or punctures to the cheeks, lips, tongue, or gums. These injuries would be considered dental emergencies. Clean the wound immediately with warm water and use sterile gauze to put pressure on the wound. Get to your dentist’s office or an emergency room quickly if you believe you need stitches or if the bleeding won’t subside.
- Knocked-Out Tooth – If a tooth has been knocked out, this is considered a dental emergency and you should contact your dentist immediately. In the meantime, there are a few steps you can take to save the tooth. These are:
- Pick the tooth up by the crown, avoiding touching the roots of the tooth.
- Rinse the tooth with clean water, but don’t remove any remaining tissue.
- Place the tooth gently back into the socket or into a cup of milk or the patient’s own saliva.
- Contact the dentist immediately.
- Other Dental Emergencies – Any dental problem that requires immediate treatment in order to save a tooth, alleviate extreme pain, or stop bleeding is considered a dental emergency. Severe infection in the tooth or mouth could be life-threatening, so seek treatment as quickly as you can.